By a 55 - 35 percent margin, New York City voters want mayoral control of public schools to
continue, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters with children in public
schools support mayoral control 57 - 41 percent.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's takeover of the public schools has been a success, voters say
50 - 31 percent, including 52 - 30 percent among parents. Voters approve 50 - 39 percent of the
way Bloomberg is handling the schools, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack)
University poll finds. But parents disapprove 55 - 37 percent.

While voters say 58 - 30 percent that they are not satisfied with the quality of public
schools in New York City, they are satisfied, 48 - 39 percent with the schools in their
neighborhood, the highest rating for local school satisfaction ever measured. Parents are satisfied
53 - 44 percent with their local schools.

By a 67 - 26 percent margin, New York City voters want more charter schools. There is
strong support among Republicans, Democrats and independent voters and among black, white
and Hispanic voters. Parents want more charter schools 72 - 26 percent.

"New Yorkers, especially parents with kids in school, are feeling better about their local
schools, the schools they know, and they're thinking that the Mayor should remain in control of
the schools, a decision that must be made by the State Legislature," said Maurice Carroll, director
of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"No one's giving Mayor Bloomberg straight A's for handling the schools, but they want
him or his successor to keep on trying."

New York City's budget problems are "very serious," 61 percent of voters say, while 34
percent call them "somewhat serious."

Voters approve 54 - 38 percent of the way Bloomberg is handling the city budget and the
Mayor even ekes out a 46 - 44 percent approval for the way he is handling taxes.

By a 53 - 39 percent margin, New York City voters would rather raise taxes than cut
services. Republicans would rather cut services, 66 - 22 percent, while raising taxes is preferred
59 - 34 percent by Democrats and 56 - 39 percent by independent voters.

"Voters have gotten the message that the city's in rough fiscal shape. But they shy away
from making cuts in the big ticket items, schools and police," Carroll said.

Voters support 50 - 45 percent raising taxes on business in the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (MTA) service area and using the money to reduce the amount of increases in transit
fares and bridge and tunnel tolls.

But voters oppose 56 - 41 percent setting new tolls on bridges over the East and Harlem
Rivers and using the money to offset fare and toll hikes. The toll bridge proposal wins 55 - 42
percent support in Manhattan and 51 - 47 percent support in Staten Island. Opposition is 67 - 29
percent in The Bronx, 59 - 37 percent in Brooklyn and 61 - 38 percent in Queens.

When he bit Bloomberg, Chuck the Groundhog was just defending his Staten Island turf,
61 percent of New Yorkers - including 79 percent of Staten Islanders - say. But 15 percent say
Chuck was making a political statement.

"Since there are no term limits for groundhogs, yet, Staten Island Chuck expects to be
looking for his shadow again next year. Let the Mayor, whoever he or she may be, beware,"
Carroll said.

From February 17 - 22, Quinnipiac University surveyed 984 New York City registered
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points. The survey includes 646 Democrats
with a margin of error of +/- 3.9 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and
nationwide as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job
as president?

47. Congress has passed President Obama's economic stimulus package which
includes tax cuts and new federal spending of about 800 billion dollars. Do
you support or oppose this economic stimulus package?

56. To balance the city budget, if you had to choose, where do you think city
spending should be decreased - public schools, police, firefighters, sanitation,
social services or culture and recreation?

TREND: To balance the city budget, if you had to choose, where do you think
city spending should be decreased - public schools, police, firefighters,
sanitation, social services or culture and recreation?

62. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has proposed fare increases for
buses, subways and trains, and toll hikes for bridges and tunnels. To help
reduce the size of these fare and toll hikes would you support or oppose
increasing taxes on businesses within the area served by the MTA?

TREND: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has proposed fare increases
for buses, subways and trains, and toll hikes for bridges and tunnels. To help
reduce the size of these fare and toll hikes would you support or oppose
increasing taxes on businesses within the area served by the MTA?

Feb 25 Jan 28
2009 2009
Support 50 47
Oppose 45 46
DK/NA 5 7

63. To help reduce the size of these fare and toll hikes would you support or
oppose placing tolls on the East river and Harlem river bridges?

TREND: Mayoral control of the public schools expires this year, unless the state
legislature renews it. Do you think Mayoral control of the public schools should
continue or not?

Feb 25 Jan 28
2009 2009
Continue 55 56
Stop 35 34
DK/NA 9 10

69. As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit
organizations. The schools are paid for with public funds. Do you think there
should be an expansion of charter schools in New York City or not?